Y&R global CEO Hamish McLennan told Media that talks were at a preliminary stage, but confirmed that the expansion is actively being considered.
“It’s a world famous brand,” said McLennan. “The rapid growth that we’re seeing over the last two to three years in Australia shows there is definitely a need for an agency of that type which is strategically focused and stands for great creativity.”
McLennan also noted that Campaign Palace would not be used as a ‘conflict shop’. “We would never treat it like that,” he said. “In Australia, it has been completely independent in its own right.”
While McLennan said it was too early to pin down exact locations for Campaign Palace’s new offices, he noted that more mature markets were under consideration including Singapore and Thailand in Asia.
Another source within Y&R, meanwhile, told Media that London, New York and Auckland were additional possible target markets for the agency, which currently houses offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
Campaign Palace was also part of the ill-fated Red Cell experiment within WPP. However, McLennan pointed out that any global expansion would not recreate what Red Cell has done.
“Ultimately, it comes down to the people we would get to lead it,” he said.